TKM starts exporting Etios range to Zimbabwe and Mauritius

Posted on: Mar 18, 2013 - 8:55am IST

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has been exporting the Etios sedan and hatchback to South Africa since early 2012. The company said they were studying new markets to expand its business opportunities whenever a question was raised on this topic.

News comes in today that they’ve already started the export of the Etios twins to Zimbabwe and Mauritius.

“Last year, we started exports of Etios to South Africa and we have so far shipped 20,000 units. We are looking at exporting the model to other countries neighbouring South Africa. We have in fact started exporting to Zimbabwe and Mauritius,” Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Hiroshi Nakagawa said.

Mr. Nakagawa also said that the company would want to increase its export volumes in due time.

Earlier this month, Toyota refreshed the Etios sedan and the Liva hatchback. Some much needed interior enhancements were done and even the exteriors were gently revised.

While we did not see anything much in terms of mechanical changes, the Etios Liva has been introduced with the 1.5-liter petrol engine from the bigger Etios sedan. Thus, the hot hatch of India for 2013 is now a Toyota!

For the export markets, the Liva badge is nixed, the suspension is hardened and the ECU tuning is a bit different. Visually there are no changes except for maybe the interior where the trim maybe predominantly black.

It remains to be seen what modifications, both exterior, interior and mechanical Toyota Kirloskar will be making in the next round of facelifts.